Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Nik Nocturnal talks with Winston McCall of @Parkwaydriveofficial about recording Killing with a Smile in just two weeks with Adam Dutkiewicz, nearly losing his voice in the studio, metalcore's comeback, the band's 20-year legacy, Australia's tall poppy syndrome, Chris Hemsworth's unexpected connection to Parkway, and why their next music might be the heaviest they've ever written.
Get 7% off Distrokid here: distrokid.com/vip/niknocturnal
🎙️ Nik Nocturnal Podcast — Episode #95
Stream on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7hStFs0dDA6LChP73rGUhd
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Support Parkway Drive
youtube.com/@Parkwaydriveofficial
instagram.com/parkwaydriveofficial
open.spotify.com/artist/159qqlGwzE04xyqpfAwRLo?si=5t5kSgGdQBGEszd1plhCfA
parkwaydriverock.com
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Support Nik Nocturnal Podcast🙏
• Merch: corekid.ca
• Instagram: instagram.com/niknocturnalpodcast
• TikTok tiktok.com/@niknocturnalpodcast
CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 Announcing the Killing Horizons anniversary tour
00:01:55 Revisiting Killing with a Smile after 15 years untouched
00:06:05 Making Killing with a Smile with Adam D in two weeks
00:08:39 Blowing his voice out, then tracking all vocals in one day
00:13:11 Why imperfection is where the magic lives
00:15:58 Deathcore's rise: "we're never going to be the heaviest band"
00:19:30 Adam D banning clean vocals: the demo disaster story
00:24:57 5/8 riffs and the melodic death metal influence
00:29:27 Metalcore as a "dirty word" — and its comeback
00:31:44 Warped Tour disposability & the 20-year nostalgia cycle
00:34:38 The origin of Parkway's call-outs & mosh philosophy
00:37:44 Deep Blue, Atlas & Parkway's "three album eras"
00:43:27 Reflecting on 23 years and rediscovering old material
00:45:36 Songwriting formula vs. trying to surprise people today
00:49:42 Getting older in the band (turning 44, the injury jokes)
00:50:54 Algorithms vs. discovering music the old way
00:54:04 "Are we the Rolling Stones?" — the nostalgia cycle joke
00:56:10 Knocked Loose, Sleep Token & metalcore done right today
01:01:40 Generational fans: coloring books for kids at shows
01:02:47 Kids playing Parkway riffs at Guitar Center
01:05:36 Watching deathcore break in real time (Suicide Silence)
01:09:57 Killing with a Smile vs. Horizons: what changed
01:11:53 Writing Horizons on the road in Europe
01:12:59 The moment, 10 years in, Parkway realized they'd "made it"
01:14:46 Tall poppy syndrome & Australian self-doubt culture
01:16:35 Parkway's role in Australian metal history
01:20:28 Becoming the band that inspired a generation
01:21:06 The Chris Hemsworth / Avengers drumming story
01:24:27 New music teaser: "the heaviest thing we've ever done"
01:28:28 Winston's Metalcore Mount Rushmore
01:30:14 Outro
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#NikNocturnalPodcast #MetalPodcast #parkwaydrive
Nik Nocturnal talks with Winston McCall of @Parkwaydriveofficial about recording Killing with a Smile in just two weeks with Adam Dutkiewicz, nearly losing his voice in the studio, metalcore's comeback, the band's 20-year legacy, Australia's tall poppy syndrome, Chris Hemsworth's unexpected connection to Parkway, and why their next music might be the heaviest they've ever written.
Get 7% off Distrokid here: distrokid.com/vip/niknocturnal
🎙️ Nik Nocturnal Podcast — Episode #95
Stream on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7hStFs0dDA6LChP73rGUhd
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support Parkway Drive
youtube.com/@Parkwaydriveofficial
instagram.com/parkwaydriveofficial
open.spotify.com/artist/159qqlGwzE04xyqpfAwRLo?si=5t5kSgGdQBGEszd1plhCfA
parkwaydriverock.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support Nik Nocturnal Podcast🙏
• Merch: corekid.ca
• Instagram: instagram.com/niknocturnalpodcast
• TikTok tiktok.com/@niknocturnalpodcast
CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 Announcing the Killing Horizons anniversary tour
00:01:55 Revisiting Killing with a Smile after 15 years untouched
00:06:05 Making Killing with a Smile with Adam D in two weeks
00:08:39 Blowing his voice out, then tracking all vocals in one day
00:13:11 Why imperfection is where the magic lives
00:15:58 Deathcore's rise: "we're never going to be the heaviest band"
00:19:30 Adam D banning clean vocals: the demo disaster story
00:24:57 5/8 riffs and the melodic death metal influence
00:29:27 Metalcore as a "dirty word" — and its comeback
00:31:44 Warped Tour disposability & the 20-year nostalgia cycle
00:34:38 The origin of Parkway's call-outs & mosh philosophy
00:37:44 Deep Blue, Atlas & Parkway's "three album eras"
00:43:27 Reflecting on 23 years and rediscovering old material
00:45:36 Songwriting formula vs. trying to surprise people today
00:49:42 Getting older in the band (turning 44, the injury jokes)
00:50:54 Algorithms vs. discovering music the old way
00:54:04 "Are we the Rolling Stones?" — the nostalgia cycle joke
00:56:10 Knocked Loose, Sleep Token & metalcore done right today
01:01:40 Generational fans: coloring books for kids at shows
01:02:47 Kids playing Parkway riffs at Guitar Center
01:05:36 Watching deathcore break in real time (Suicide Silence)
01:09:57 Killing with a Smile vs. Horizons: what changed
01:11:53 Writing Horizons on the road in Europe
01:12:59 The moment, 10 years in, Parkway realized they'd "made it"
01:14:46 Tall poppy syndrome & Australian self-doubt culture
01:16:35 Parkway's role in Australian metal history
01:20:28 Becoming the band that inspired a generation
01:21:06 The Chris Hemsworth / Avengers drumming story
01:24:27 New music teaser: "the heaviest thing we've ever done"
01:28:28 Winston's Metalcore Mount Rushmore
01:30:14 Outro
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#NikNocturnalPodcast #MetalPodcast #parkwaydrive
